Interpenetration of linguistic levels: French inalienable possession

Abstract

This paper argues for a multi-level view of French inalienable possession. Syntax, semantics and pragmatics all come into play, depending on both lexicon and type of discourse. Following a summary of the syntagmatic rules typifying both handbooks and theoretical treatments, it is shown that such rules apply primarily to a core of high-frequency expressions. Both literary and colloquial data manifest a definite article/ possessive variation that reflects a semantic option, tentatively labeled ‘salience’. Pragmatics is seen in the effect which the surrounding discourse too has on this variation. Finally, the role of conventionality becomes apparent from an examination of abstract inalienables, wherein the coexistence of idiosyncrasy and rules finds support from neurolinguistics.